- There are no formal prerequisites for entry onto any of our qualifications. The courses are designed to take delegates from a basic level through to an expert understanding of the practical application of the law in their specialist area.
- Professionally qualified paralegals are a valuable asset. They make a substantial contribution to the legal profession, local authorities and public and private sector entities alike. Institutions all over the country rely upon them for the important role they play in the legal process.
- Some people start their paralegal career in a support role in a firm and progress to doing fee earning work under the supervision of a solicitor or a department manager.
Others take on a paralegal role after having completed a law degree or their LPC: if a training contract isn’t available to them.
The BTEC Foundation Diploma
An online based qualification ideally suited for those new to the profession or those wishing to gain confidence in this area before moving on to the higher level UWE Specialist Paralegal Qualification.
Please click here for full details of this Qualification.
The UWE Specialist Paralegal Qualification
This distance learning Qualification is brought to you in association with the University of the West of England. This qualification is ideally suitable for those who have completed the BTEC Advanced Diploma, or who have at least 2 years experience in a legal environment and who wish to progress to full professional recognition.
Please click here for full details of this Qualification.
- I am a law graduate - what are my paralegal career options?
Whilst having a law degree will give you legal knowledge in the areas you have studied, your knowledge will be of academic law and whilst this will help you to research legal topics, it does not mean that you are ready for the legal job market.
If when you complete your degree you decide not to take your legal training any further, at this point you may decide to become a career paralegal. Whilst employers will look at academic achievement when recruiting paralegals they also need employees who have knowledge of the practical elements of practice such which form to use for a particular, how to draft documents and how to deal with ethical and client care issues. CLT’s qualifications can help you get the skills and knowledge you need.
- I am a legal secretary/assistant am I a paralegal?
Legal Assistants and Secretaries are sometimes referred to as paralegals and often undertaken paralegal work. For example many legal secretaries will be involved in conveyancing transactions or drafting simple wills.
Many legal secretaries have completed CLT’s certificate courses and diploma qualifications and gained confidence and career progression which has led to them taking the Specialist Paralegal Qualification and becoming Qualified Paralegals.
- The future for paralegals
With the changes to the legal landscape arising from the Legal Services Act 2007 this is an exciting time for paralegals. The changes taking place now mean that paralegals are eligible to become partners in solicitors’ firms, members in Alternative Business Structures and hold judicial office as tribunal chairmen/chairwomen.
Therefore, there is no better time for paralegals to seize the opportunities available and prove that their skills knowledge and experience can match that of qualified lawyers by ensuring that as well as skills and experience paralegals have the right legal qualifications to take them to the top of their career ladder.